Buyer Info

Preparing to bring your new kitten home
When preparing to bring your new Ragdoll kitten home, you will want to "child proof" or "kitten proof" your home. Imagine yourself as a kitten and look at things from their point of view. You would see many "opportunities" for things to play with; many of these opportunities may not be safe. Child proofing your home for your new Ragdoll kitten may prevent a costly trip to the emergency room, or worse yet, a tragedy. If you kitten proof your home, your new Ragdoll kitten will remain safe, happy and healthy.

There are many items to consider when kitten proofing your home, you should ask at least the following questions:

• What type of plants do you have, are they poisonous?
• Are there cords out in the open?
• Are my computer cords organized and "child proof"?
• Is there a string or cord dangling from the mini-blinds or curtains?
• Is there potpourri sitting out as an open invitation?
• Are there small animals to protect such as a hamster or a mouse?
• Are there any ripped screens on any windows that get opened?
• Is there a doggie door that needs to get locked?
• Is there a water fountain?
• Are there any sharp objects laying out, ie knives, swords, etc.?
• Are there any small holes into cupboards, walls, behind the washer and dryer?
• Is the furnace and water area enclosed and out of access?
• Are there any open, uncovered heater vents?
• Are there pet birds?
• Do you have a fish tank? If so, is the lid secure, if not a kitten could fall in and drown.
• Are there any large dogs that are not accustomed to cats?
• Is there a fireplace, is it open or closed with doors? A spark can ignite the cat fur.
• Do you have a wood burning stove?
• Do you cook on a gas stove?
• Do you burn candles?
• Do you use scented potpourri oils?
• Do you have items such as sewing, knitting or bead work crafting materials lying out?
• Do you have a second floor?
• Does this second floor have banisters and spindles rather than a wall?
• Do you have small children that need to be prepped on how to handle a kitten?
• Do you have children that leave a door open to the outside or to a garage?
• Do you have heavy items sitting on dangling doilies that could be pulled down?
• Do you have a utility room that you store hazardous materials, such as anti-freeze, paint thinner, etc.?
• Do you have a linen closet with moth balls? Moth balls are toxic to cats.
• Do you have a paper shredder? A cat jumping on it can turn it on.
• Do you have rocking chairs or recliners that can crush a paw under the weight?
• Do you have open toilet bowls?
• Do you have a string mop sitting out?

Once you have asked yourself these questions of your home and remedied any situations, you are now ready to bring your new Ragdoll kitten home.

"Bringing home a new Ragdoll kitten, what supplies do I need?"

To make the transition and acclimatision period easier and less stressful for your new Ragdoll kitten, you should keep in mind the saying "those who fail to plan, plan to fail". It is recommended that you purchase these items in advance of bringing your new Ragdoll kitten home.

Food - It is best to keep your new kitten on the same kind of food he/she is accustomed to eating as well as maintaining feeding times and frequencies. A change in diet can cause digestive upsets which can result in vomiting and/or diarrhea. It is recommended that you do not change the diet of a new kitten. In the event you choose to change the diet of your new kitten, do it slowly over time, give your new kitten time to acclimatise to his/her surroundings and get settled. Diet change is not recommended for at least one to six months. At BigFlop Ragdolls, we feed a raw meat diet and Orijen dry food kibble to our kittens and to our adult Ragdoll cats. We feed them a portion of raw food 2 times a day and they always have dry food available in their bowl. I am making my own raw meat mixture - the recipe is provided on the health page. If you prefer to buy commercially available raw food, I would recommend TolldenFarms brand.

Water – You can use a bowl but I would recommend a cat drinking fountain - we have Catit Deluxe Drinking fountain and our cats love it. It is very important to assure that your cat is drinking enough water, if not they tend to have urinary problems.

Cat grass - Among the possible explanations for why cats enjoy eating grass, here are a few that are commonly postulated, but as yet unproven (except perhaps for the fourth one):

1. Aids in a healthy digestion, and helps move hairballs along. Instead of coughing up the hairball, the hairball is more likely to be passed through your cat's digestive system.
2. Great source of fiber (roughage) in your cat's diet.
3. Contains chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a natural substance that makes grass green and acts as a natural breath freshener for your cat.
4. Cat Oat Grass and Cat Wheat Grass taste great to your cat.

Litter Box - Whether you choose to use a covered or uncovered litter box, there are things to consider. A covered litter box gives the kitten the privacy to do their business without an audience. However, many covered litter boxes are too small for large Ragdoll cats - if they don't feel comfortable there, they will start looking for a more comfortable place. An open litter box is easy to find for your kitten as an alternative. Bear in mind, kittens are like children, when the urge to go hits them, they gotta go. One litter box per floor is recommended for homes of multi-levels. Show your new kitten where the litter boxes are, put your new kitten in the litter box. Make sure that the litter box is clean; cats are very clean animals and they prefer clean places to do their business. I scoop litter boxes on a daily basis and I wash them every 2 weeks.

Cat Litter - It is best not to make any immediate changes for your new kitten; cat litter is no exception. Whether you choose to use the standard clay litter or the clumpable/scoopable litter is up to you, the better question is, "will my kitten use the litter box if I change litter?" We use the scoopable QualiCat brand litter from Costco.

Toys - Toys are a great way to entertain your new kitten. Toys for kittens should be thought of as toys for babies. If a toy has moving parts, strings or parts that will come off easily, it may not be safe for your new baby kitten. Toys with strings are a hazard, shoe strings, tinsle, lace, ribbon, yarn and thread are not safe. Items that can be easily swallowed invite trouble and a trip to the emergency room for surgical removal. PomPoms are soft fuzzy balls, our cats absolutely love these. (available in the craft section at Wal-Mart)

Kitty condos - Just like humans, cats and kittens desire to have a place to call their own. A kitty condo is a great place for your kitty to escape from the household chaos for a quick cat nap. Giving a kitten a place to call their own is also a great way to help a child set boundaries as to when not to bother the kitty.

Scratching posts or trees - Many cat owners misunderstand scratching behavior. Owners often ask "how do I keep my cat from scratching? The best answer is not to stop them from scratching, but rather re-direct it. Cats scratch for three main reasons. They do it for the exercise and stretching, to condition their claws and, most importantly, to mark their territory. Having a scratching post will allow your cat to meet these needs without risking damage to the furniture.

Grooming tools - Grooming tools can be as basic as a metal tooth comb or rubber brush and a pair of cat nail clippers, or as extensive as a professional groomer’s dryer, thinning shears and professional shavers.